Catawba Valley Community College’s Cody Payne slides into third base in Friday’s game at the Legion Fairgrounds, where the Red Hawks won 19-1 over Piedmont International’s JVs to start the season 3-0./CVCC PHOTO
HobbsDailyReport.com
HICKORY – Jimmy Marcelli and R.J. Conner each drove in three runs on Friday, helping Catawba Valley Community College (CVCC) stay unbeaten with a 19-1 victory that completed a season-opening series sweep of the Piedmont International junior varsity team.
The Red Hawks (3-0) won a five-inning game at Henkel-Alley Field at the Legion Fairgrounds – their home field in Newton – as Cody Payne and Cory Watt also drove in two runs each.
CVCC starting pitcher Trae Starnes allowed just three hits, one unearned run and struck out seven in 3 1/3 innings before relievers Greg Collins and Chase Covington closed it out. They combined to allow no hits, one walk and struck out four.
The Bruins took a 1-0 lead after the top of the first inning, but the Red Hawks answered with six runs in the bottom of the inning that included RBI singles from Marcelli, Payne and first basemen Kyran Russ.
CVCC added a run in the second inning on an RBI sacrifice fly before exploding in the bottom of the third inning for 10 runs, including a two-RBI double by Marcelli and a three-run double from Conner.
Starnes, Collins and Covington held the Bruin bats at bay, allowing the Red Hawks to earn a run-rule victory.
CVCC’s next game is Wednesday on the road, a doubleheader against the Limestone junior varsity with a start time yet to be announced for the games in Gaffney, S.C.
— Reported by CVCC Sports Information